I was thinking about this thread at Wimborne Folk Club last night because someone sang Eric Bogle's 'Somewhere in America.' It's a song that I also sing, but 'my' version has a chorus, and I accompany myself on guitar. The version sung last night had no chorus, was unaccompanied, the melody was (in places) different to the one I sing, and occasionally the words were slightly different.

Now, I've never heard Eric Bogle's version - I learned it from the singing of the Ennis Sisters of St John's, Newfoundland and have probably altered it slightly. I don't know where the other singer learned his version but it would seem to me that this is an example of a recently composed song, by a well known writer, that is undergoing some sort of 'folk process.' My version is on MySpace (www.myspace.com/terrymcdonalddorset) and will be the opening track of my (vanity published) CD. The 'other' singer is also recording a CD at the moment, albeit as part of a duo, but I don't know whether 'Somewhere in America' will be on it. If it was, we'd have two similar, rather than identical, songs.

I can, if pushed, think of a couple of other examples where this is happening - Darcy Farrow for starters. Again, I've never heard it by its writers, and I've never heard the John Denver version. I learned it from other singers at Wimborne and I sing slightly different words to them. (My knowledge of the geography of California/Nevada is better than theirs....).

So, I would go along with Richard Mellish argue that despite the impact of recordings etc, songs are still being absorbed into some sort of folk tradition and will continue to do so.